Tigard City Council discusses social gaming at workshop meeting

TIGARD – Tigard City Council requested more information and potential drafts for an ordinance allowing social gaming within the city limits at its workshop meeting Tuesday night.

The discussion, as requested by New Kings Buffet in Tigard, considered authorizing the activity – in which all the money wagered is returned to the players in the form of prizes – and possible regulations.

Oregon law prohibits social gaming, absent local government consent, but the activity occurs in Tigard through some loopholes.

City Attorney Peter Watts said the confusion lies in Tigard's absence of any regulation regarding social gaming, even though in order to engage in the activity, there needs to be an ordinance that allows it.

Sports bars such as Blitz in Tigard and New Kings Buffet advertise games that could be considered social gaming, but there's no exchange of funds, said Buffet's manager and a Blitz server.

In order to be considered social gaming, the players have to put up something of value. In addition, it would be illegal only if the host venue, restaurants in this case, were taking a stake of the profits.

In April, the owner of New Kings Buffet requested that the council allow the activity as games like Texas Hold 'em become more popular in the bar culture.

In a letter to the Council, the owner cited reasons for allowing the activity, including potential increased revenue from food and drink orders and more jobs as a subsequent result.

Critics of the idea, including Councilor President Gretchen Buehner and Councilor Nick Wilson, hesitated over potential impacts to the Oregon Lottery system and crime related issues.

"If they want to go to Portland, that's ok with me, but I don't think it's necessary to change the status quo," Wilson said. "It doesn't seem to fit how I see Tigard."

City Manager Marty Wine said an ordinance, either prohibiting or allowing the activity, could clear confusion among differing ordinances from nearby cities.

Future discussions among the Council will take into consideration an informal poll of 11 Tigard businesses and feedback from the Tigard Police Department.

Managers from businesses that would fit the model, such as Blitz Sports Pub, Gators and Bull Mt. Bar and Grill, were indifferent to the ordinance.

Most said they tried having poker games in the past, but it was a money losing venture, and others said they wouldn't host games because it could negatively impact their Oregon Lottery earnings.

Those that held social gaming used a third party to administer the games, and neither the company nor the restaurant received a profit from the games.

Tigard police officers told staff that they had not received any complaints or safety issues regarding the types of gaming that currently occurs in Tigard.

If an ordinance is approved, the Council could decide to limit the number of social gaming centers in the city, limit the proximity of centers to schools or the role that the host establishment plays in gaming.